Al Ittihad have not given up on trying to secure a deal for Liverool forward Mohamed Salah ahead of this week's Saudi Pro League transfer deadline, sources have confirmed to 90min.
Salah has long been the Saudi Arabian football' top target, but the initial plans to bring him to the country in 2024 have been brought forward as there is belief a deal could yet be done this year.
The 31-year-old Egyptian was overlooked to be the next Liverpool captain after former skipper Jordan Henderson departed for Al Ettifaq in July and some of Salah's closest friends from in the game have openly criticised how the player has been handled by Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp, though, for his part his made his position clear repeatedly over recent weeks - he does not want to lose the north African superstar.
90min revealed earlier in the summer that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) - owners of Al Ittihad and three of the legaue's other leading clubs - had been pushing for a transfer this summer and things have accelerated in recent weeks. Talks remain ongoing.
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A verbal offer of £150m was rejected last month by Liverpool, but Al Ittihad are refusing to back down and 90min also confirmed that, if required, they would be prepared to break the £200m transfer world record for Salah. There are plans to make him the best paid footballer on the planet, surpassing even the current contract that Cristiano Ronaldo enjoys at Al Nassr.
The Saudi Pro League transfer deadline falls on Thursday evening. Despite having just days left, Al Ittihad are continuing to push for Salah. They firmly believe that he wants to move and the only thing standing in the way of a deal is an agreement with Liverpool owners FSG.
Sources close to the prospective deal have told 90min that they expect Al Ittihad to continue work on it up to the deadline on Thursday if that is what is required to try and seal Salah's signature.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Al Ittihad believe Mohamed Salah wants to join them as Liverpool talks continue.